Velocipede



(NoMdel.) 0. HAMMQASTROM. 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. y

- VBLOGIPBDE. No. 417,483. Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. HAMMARSTROM.

A VBLOGIPBDB. 110.417,488. Patented'Deo. 17, 1889.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-'sheet a.

0. HAM-MARSTRO1VL VBLOGIPBDR No. 417,483. 1 Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

j I I E11 1w J i I 7km mw, y/WMM l @uw E? H495.

N4 PEVERS, Phmvuxhogmphnr.- Wilmington. D. c.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

' oLoF HAMMARSTROM, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,483, dated December 1'7, 1889.v Application filed June 21, 1889. Y Serial No. 315,079. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLor1 HAMMARsTRoM, of the city and county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference vbeing had to the accompanying drawings,

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are front, rear, and side views,

respectively, showing my improvements in the steering rod or bar construction, hereinafter described. Fig. 6 represents upon an enlarged scale a vertical transverse Section through the parts shown in Fig. l, taken on line a a in said ligure, all the following iigures being also shown upon the same enlarged scale. Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sections taken atthe points indicated by lines b and crespectively, Fig. 6 showing a side view of one of the sprocket-wheels on the main shaft and the means whereby the driving-power is communicated to said shaft and the large drive-w heels. Fig. 9 is a horizontalV section taken on line d, Fig. ,2, looking down, and showing a planyof the crank-shaft and its connection with my improved driving mechanism, hereinafter described, Fig. l0 is a vertical section taken at the point indicated by line e in Fig. 9, looking toward the crankshaft and other parts shown in said Fig. 9. Fig. ll is a vertical sectiontaken on line f, Fig. l0, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrowy in said figure; and Fig. l2 is a vertical section taken on line g g, Fig. 9.

My invention relates more particularly to tricycles; and it consists of improvements in the driving mechanism and in the steering rod or bar construction, as and for the purpose hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to better understand the nature and' purpose thereof, I will now proceed to describe it more in detail.

In the drawings, the part marked A represents the .main shaft or axle; B B, the main drive-wheels; C, the small front guide or lead wheel; D, the front fork; E, the main frame or backbone, extending from the front fork to the main shaft or axle, and bifurcated at its rear end to engage with the bearings F F on said main shaft or axle just inside of the drive-wheels B B, as Well as near the center, to support the ends of the crank-shaft G.

The seat H5 is supported, as usual, by means of an adjustable angle-rod H4, in this instance tted to work vertically in a suitable bearing in frame E, and fastened after adjustment by a set-screw h. Said Seat is also provided .with the usual supporting-spring H3, interposed between the seat and angle-rod H4 and adjustably fastened on said rod, as shown in Fig. 2.

My main or essential improvement consists in employing two drive-chains and two sets of sprocket-wheels and so constructing the various other parts of the driving mechanism that the rider may ship the power from the crank-shaft to one or the other of said sets of sprocket Wheels and chains in propelling the machine over level ground and in ascending elevations, as and for the purpose hereinafter more fully specified. I do not, however, claim the above feature broadly, my invention being limited to the special construction and arrangement herein shown and described for accomplishing said result. Said driving mechanismis constructed, arranged, and operated in the following manner.

Upon the crank-shaft G are arranged the two sprocket-wheels H and I, which are connected by means of endless chains H l with similar sprocket Wheels H2 l2, fitted over ratchet wheels i t', in turn secured to' the sleeve J, fitted over main shaft or axle A,

caps t" 'i'. As is well known, power transmitted from a smaller' to a larger wheel reduces the speed, and at the same time reduces the power required to drive the driven wheel, while a reverse result is obtained by reversing the position of said wheels. I have therefore, in order to render the operation of ascending hills or other elevations, as Well as broken and soft ground, as easy as possible, made the driver-wheel H on the crank-shaft considerably smaller than the driven Wheel H2, arranged over the main axle, and to 0b- IOO tain an increased speed on smooth level ground, where less power is required, I make the driver-wheel Ion the crank-shaft of equal.

or larger diameter than the driven-wheel I2. The power is shipped and unshipped to and from one or the other of said driving-wheels H I, as required for the above purposes, by fitting the hub H6 of the wheel H so that it may slide longitudinally as well as be held from turning thereon. Said hub is also provided with lugs j-two in this instance-which are adapted to fit into 'notches 7o, formed in the hub I3 of the larger wheel I, so as `to form a clutch similar to other clutches for a similar purpose. Said hub I'l is clutched and unclutched to and from the hub I3 by means of a suitable shipper l, iitted to rock in suitable bearings m on the frame E, also engaging with the hub Il, and operated by a crank-lever n, provided with the handle n', through the connecting-rod o and crank 17. Said hand-lever is in this instance pivoted at n2 to the upper end of the frame q, which supports the steering-bar r, and in which and the steering-head E said bar is fitted to turn, as usual. The connecting-rod is pivoted at its upper end to said hand-lever n, and at its lower end to the crank 1J, which latter is in turn secured at its other end to the rocking shipper Z. Said shipper is preferably made fork-shaped at the end which engages with the wheel-hub H", and said hub is provided with an annular groove s, in which said forked end fits, as is best shown in Figs. 9 to l2, inclusive. The large sprocket-wheel I turns freely on the crank-shaft when disengaged from the small'wheel H, the power being communicated therefrom to operate the driving-wheels only when engaged with said small wheel, which latter, as before stated, turns with the shaft, being held in this instance by a transverse pin t, which passes through suitable slots u in the hub H6, and thus permits the wheel H to slidelongitudinally, as also previously described. The sprocket-wheels II2 I2 are arranged to turn with the sleeve J when the drivin g-power is required to propel the machine, and to turn freely thereon in the opposite direction when such power is not required, by fitting each of -said wheels over a ratchet-wheel t', secured to the sleeve, as hereinbefore specified, and providing the wheels with a pawl c, pivoted in a suitable recess in the hub, adapted to engage with the teeth of said ratchet-wheels, as shown in Fig. 7, said pawls being held in enga-gement with the teeth by means of a suitable spring w, secured to each wheel.

By the foregoing construction and arrangement it is obvious that when the small sprock' et-wheel H is disengaged from the larger one I the machine, although driven with less speed, may be propelled with much less exertion on the part of the rider than by the use of said large wheel I, thus enabling him to ascend elevations or hills and pass over rough or soft ground with comparative ease, in practice the power required under such circumstances being but little' greater than that ordinarily required in traveling over level ground. lVhen the machine is thus adjusted with the small wheel unclutched from the larger one I, said small wheel acts as the driver, the larger one turning freely on its bearing; but when said small wheel is clutched to the larger one both turn together, the larger one I only, however, acting as a driver, owing to its turning the wheel I2 much faster than the small one turns the wheel H2. In this case, as will at once bc seen, said small wheel follows and turns its wheel l-I2 at its slower speed, while the sleeve and ratchet-wheel have an independent rotary motion in said wheel H2 at the` speed imparted to them by the wheel I, the ratchet-teeth and pawl causing the wheel H2 to be turned at the slow speed imparted by its driver Il, and at the same time permitting of the aforesaid increased speed of the sleeve and ratchet-wheels. The power may be conveniently shipped from one set of drivingwheels to the other by the rider without leaving his seat or stopping the machine by means of the handle n', as previously described. If preferred, said handle may be ai ranged at any other convenient place on the machine, and the connections with the shipper Z modified to correspond therewith to produce the same result. In this instance one of the bearings m is made to serve the double purpose of a bearing and foot-rest m for the rider to step upon in taking his position upon the seat; but, if preferred, said foot-rest may be arranged independent of said bearing.

The cranks K and foot-treadles L are constructed and arranged on the crank-shaft G in substantially the same manner as in other machines, and require no detailed description.

Thepower is communicated from the sleeve J to the driving-wheels B B, also in a similar manner to other machines, and no claim is made thereto. One drive-wheel is arranged to turn with the shaft A by making the end of the shaft square in cross-section and the hub of the wheel of corresponding shape, as is shown in Figs. G and 8, while the other wheel turns loosely on said shaft, and is provided with a hub having an internal gear which engages with pinions y, fitted to turn on a hub J formed or secured on the sleeve J. Said pinions in turn engage with a spurgear z, secured to the shaft A. Therefore it is obvious that when the sleeve J, is turned, as previously described, the power is comnunicated to the loose drive-wheel through the pinions y and internal gear on the hub m of said wheel, and to the wheel secured on the opposite end of shaft A through said pinions fg, the spur-gear e, and said shaft.

A free rotary motion ofthe sleeve J in the rear forked end of frame E is obtained by means of suitable ball-bearings F F, which may be of ordinary well-known construction, and, being fully shown in Fig. 6, require no further description.

IOC

IIO

My improvement in the steering rod or barY consists in making the same so that its upper part may be swung forward and down with the handle-bar and its handles to enable the rider to more conveniently mount the machine. The upper end r of said steering rod or bar r is made separate from the lower part, and pivoted at r2 to said lower part, which eX- tends up from the front fork D, said pivot coming preferably just above the supportingframe q, previously referred to. The pivoted upper end -r is held in its vertical position, after being swungup, by means of a suitable spring-latch T5, in this instance having a hooked end r3,which is adapted to pass through openings r4 in both parts to lock them in position, the same being unlocked to swing the upper part r down by pressing upon the spring end of the latch to withdraw its holding-hook Afrom the opening in the lower or main part r of the rod. By this construction and arrangement it is obvious that by turning the lead-wheel C to one side and swinging down the part r the handle-bar and handles are moved out of the way, and the rider may mount the'machine from the front side 'in a very convenient and easy manner. This feature of my invention, as will also be apparent, is of especial advantage in the construction of ladies tricycles.

In practice a suitable guard is designed to be used over the chains and other driving mechanism to protect the clothing of the' rider; but it is left off in the drawings to more fully illustrate my improvements.

Any brake device may be used uponA my improved machine suitable for effecting the desired result. In this instance I have shown in Figs. 1 and 6 anA ordinary strap-brake J2, adapted to be tightened over the hub J on the sleeve J by means of a suitable lever J3. As I make no claim thereto, it is unnecessary to further describe the same.

Although my invention is designed more particularly for tricycles, it may be applied, if desired, to other forms and classes of velocipedes.

As will be observed from the foregoing description, the essential qualities of my invention consist in a construction and arrangement whereby the power required in propelling the machine may be distributed and utilized to the best advantage, the employmentof a small driving-wheel rendering the operation of propelling the machine over difficult ground much easier to perform than Without vsuch provision, while at the same time not affecting the use of a larger driving- Wheel in traveling over smooth and level ground. The advantage of the jointed steering-rod will also be apparent to those skilled in the art to which said invention appertains.

Aside from the construction and arrangement required to effect the above desirable results, the machine is similar to other machines now in use.

WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a velocipede, the crank-shaft G, sprocket-wheel H, -fitted to turn with said shaft and to slide longitudinally thereon, also`having an annular groove s in its hub, and the sprocket- ,wheel I, fitted loose on shaft G, the hub of one wheel being provided with lugs j and the other with notches k, in combination with the shipper Z, adapted to engage with groove s, and having a handle n for operating the same through suitable connections, chains H I', sprocket-wheels H2 I2, fitted over ratchetwheels t' 7,' on sleeve J,.said ratchet-wheels, their pawls and springs i: w, and sleeve J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a velocipede, the sprocket-Wheel H, fitted to turnwith the crank-shaft G and to slide longitudinally thereon, also having an annular groove s in its hub, and the sprocketwheel I, tted loose on said shaft, the hub of one wheel being provided with the lugs j and the other with notches 7c, in combination with the shipper Z, adapted to engage with said groove s, and having the handle n', for operating the same through suitable connections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a velocipede, the loose sprocket-wheel I on crank shaft G, and shipping -lever Z, adapted to engage with the hub of sprocket- Wheel H and operated by a handle n through suitable connections, in combination with the hub of said sprocket-wheel H, tted to turn with shaft G and to slide longitudinally thereon, also adapted to be clutched and unclutched to and from the hub of wheel I, chain I-I, sprocket-wheel H2, its ratchet-wheel i, pawl o, spring w, and sleeve J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a velocipede, the combination of the lower part r of the steering-rod having the transverse hole r4 in its upper end, with the hinged upper part r', pivoted to the upper end of the rod r, having a transverse hole at one side of its pivot corresponding to the hole r4 aforesaid, and upon whose outer end is mounted the handle-bar, and the spring-latch frs, pivoted at or near its center to the hinged part r', near its Apivoted end, said latch being provided with a lateral projection or hook r3 at its inner end, adapted to enter the transverse holes r4 when broughtin alignment therewith, and with a spring interposed between its outer end and the hinged part r for forcing said hooked end inward, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

` OLOF HAMMARSTROM.

Vitnesses:

I-I. W. EKLUND, A. A. BARKER. 

